A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar

A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Elobey, Annobon & Corisco

1903 Scott 8 10c rose lake "King Alfonso XIII"

Quick History
Elobey, Annobon & Corisco were a group of Islands in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa. These Spanish colonial possessions were administered under the Governor General who also administered Fernando Po. The capital was Santa Isabel. and the population was 3,000 people in 1910. The islands are now a part of Equatorial Guinea. Stamps were issued from 1903-1910. In 1909, the stamps of Spanish Guinea replaced these issues.

100 Centimos = 1 Peseta

Reverse of 1903 Scott 8 10c lake

The 1903, 1905, 1907 issues have control nimbers on the back

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue '97, on one line of one page, has seven stamp spaces for the 1907 King Alfonso issue. The Scott 2011 Classic Specialized catalogue has 60 major stamp descriptions. Coverage is 12%.

All of the colonies stamps show a portrait of King Alfonso XIII.

We should be grateful that BB has a page devoted to this fairly obscure Spanish possession.
But since the '97 edition page is now mostly empty, perhaps a few additional stamps could be added? :-)

I found 25 additional candidates among the 1903, 1905, 1907, 1908-09, and 1910 issues. Twenty-one of these stamps can be had for <$1! So definitely add to the page, or find a supplemental page for these inexpensive stamps.

Additionals....
1903
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

1905
19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,

1908-09 black surcharge
55,56,

1910 red surcharge
59,60,

O.K., so I have made a case for adding stamps. But is there a flaw in the logic?

Yes, acquiring them. ;-)

Rarely do I find "Elobey, Annobon & Corisco" stamps in general collections.

Annobon on Map; other islands (not shown) are closer to Equatorial Guinea

Kinds of Blue
The '97, '69,'47 and '41 editions are all similar in content. Elobey, Annobon & Corisco's stamp spaces can be found after Cuba in the '69, and after Cuba and Eastern Rumelia in the '47 and '41 editions.

Location of Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico

Big Blue Bottom Line
Obscure, but alive in Big Blue! Adding some additional stamps should not be a financial burden.